2006 Lake County Malbec — $38

Aromas of dark spice, plum and fig entice the senses and prepare you for a palate featuring dried blueberries and a velvety plum jam.

Winemaker’s Comments

Along the southwestern shores of Clear Lake in Lake County lies the enigmatic and beautiful Diamond Ridge. The name Diamond Ridge comes from the breathtaking view of the land when the sun is shining. The small pieces of the rocky soil catch the eye of the sun and sparkle like diamonds. The distinct red, volcanic terrain produces very flavorful and complex wines. This complexity is enhanced by the hot daytime temperatures and cool nights, which ripen the fruit slowly.

Aromas of dark spice, plum and fig entice the senses and prepare you for a palate featuring dried blueberries and a velvety plum jam. Be careful, the smooth finish of vanilla and blackberries can whisk you off into a dream-like state.

Malbec

The Malbec grape is a thin-skinned grape and needs more sun and heat than either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot to mature. It ripens mid-season and can bring very deep color, ample tannin, and a particular plum-like flavor component to add complexity to claret blends. Sometimes, especially in its traditional growing regions, it is not trellised and cultivated as bush vines (the goblet system.) Here it is sometimes kept to a relatively low yield of about 6 tons per hectare. The wines are rich, dark and juicy. As a varietal it creates a rather inky red (or violet) intense wine, so it is also commonly used in blends, such as with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon to create the renowned red French Bordeaux "claret" blend. Other wine regions use the grape to produce Bordeaux-style blends. The grape needs a high differential between day and evening temperatures, with a minimum fluctuation of 27 degrees Fahrenheit (15 °C) in a day. The varietal is sensitive to frost and has a proclivity to shatter.

Preferred Pricing

1 - 2 cases: 10% off, 3 - 5 cases: 15% off, 6 + cases: 20% off (does not apply to Library & Reserve wines).
Mixed cases allowed. Wine club members are given an additional 5% off on all purchases.